All Over Albany

Can anybody recommend Albany area restaurants that use local ingredients and have a veggie friendly menu?

We checked to clarify that CD was looking for vegetarian options. Or as CD responded:

Vegetarian options from local sources. #NoBagSalads

It seems more restaurants are offering vegetarian options, though the choices aren't always engaging. That said, some spots have given it a surprising shot. 677 Prime, the fancy pants steakhouse, recently had a vegetarian tasting menu -- we tried it, and while not every course was a hit, there were some interesting dishes. (The best dish involved carrots prepared a few different ways -- it was really good.)

And that points to one of the reasons to be curious about vegetarian options, even if you're not a vegetarian: going meat free often prompts a different, more interesting take on food.

So we're curious to hear about people's vegetarian favorites. Got a suggestion for CD? Please share!

I don't know how local the ingredients are, but my veggie favorites (my partner and I are both veggie and moved to Albany last year) are Parivar on Central in Colonie (an all-veg Indian cafe and grocery store), and, to be perfectly honest, Bombers. The latter probably isn't really what you're looking for, but I can't recommend Parivar highly enough. Looking forward to hearing other suggestions!

New World Bistro Bar! There are also lots of other vegetarian friendly ethnic restaurants (Van's, all the Indian places, Pho Yum, etc.) but it's hard to know if they procure their ingredients from local sources.

The crowd favorite will be New World Bistro Bar. Many will probably direct you to Antipastos in Clifton Park as well. The former does indeed have some good stuff, but I found the food from the latter to be inedible.

The Hungry Fish Cafe comes to mind. Sarah Fish is opening a new venture, Cafe Congress, in Troy, and I'm sure that will also have lots of vegetarian options. She sources everything local, and even house-makes all the condiments and sauces!

I ate at The Hollow Bar on N. Pearl this week for the first time and was amazed by the selection of vegetarian dishes on the menu -- much more than I would expect from a bar food-pub type place. Have no idea how much is locally sourced but it was all tasty.http://www.thehollowalbany.com/Hollow_menu.pdf

Vans on Central Avenue in Albany (off quail) is a fantastic Vietnamese place. They use vegetarian fish sauce for their veg friendly dishes. You MUST try the vegetarian broad noodle dish that has tofu and seitan. So addicting.

Don't forget X's to O's bakery in Troy (97 4th St). They use as much local and organic stuff as they can for their super lunch specials & soup. They also have an awesome brunch by the pound every other weekend.

Ali Baba's on 16th street, not local, but great veggie shwarma and cold salad plate.

The Troy Farmer's Market on Saturdays has the local Mexican ladies' food booth, Thunder Mountain Curry also makes an awesome veggie plate in the summer. The Jamaican restaurant also has great veggie specials. The market itself also has a great atmosphere.

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